(But then again, that's one reason the house in in such a beautiful community).Could you have possibly rented this out (or L/O'd it) to recur some expenses?

I spent $700 extra on the make ready to upgrade from buff/polish to a complete sand but it now has the most beautiful re-finished hardwood floors.  

It's an estate sale, and the seller was very short with me on the phone but here's the info he sent me:Estate sale - House + lot with potential to be subdivided (could profit from subdividing and selling the land)Looks like a single family home, I'd guess 2-3 beds/1-2 bath. 1.33 Acres (57, 935 Sq Ft)Asking $250kThe "county listed it at $238k"Conventional financing only.Description on flyer: "beautiful lot with large trees, quiet neighborhood, newer larger homes in the area.

Not at all - in the Northeast at least, many properties are older than that and are beautiful buildings.  

Lake Tahoe is beautiful.

Much Appreciated Mountain House has beautiful houses with modern layouts, but is way way way overpriced. 

I have been very close a couple of times to doing this very thing, and incredibly excited about it:  big old beautiful brick buildings that would have housed some exquisite lofts...and all the above information is good.  

He showed me the whole house, told me all the updates he had been making to sell it.We got to the kitchen, and I began speaking with his wife; listing to their intricate and incredible story of being landlords, traveling, and enjoying the good life.Everything was going beautifully. 

Really beautiful job, @Isaac Frost!  

The house was built in 1885, beautiful, in great shape and frankly I am very sad they are going to tear it down and build fugly overpriced apartment buildings.